Counter competitive intelligence cycle

Abstract:

The author's position is based on the well-known experience of Competitive Intelligence units that the classical cycle of Competitive Intelligence (management, collection, analysis and distribution) does not suit the defensive posture of Counter Competitive Intelligence. The reason why the offensive cycle of Competitive Intelligence does not fit Counter Competitive Intelligence is the fact that Counter Competitive Intelligence faces completely different tasks and therefore engages in different activities. Regrettably, professional literature dealing with the issues of Counter Competitive Intelligence touches upon this problem only marginally. In this article, the author first defines the so-called "Basic Cycle of Counter Competitive Intelligence". He then proceeds to fill this basic cycle with all the essential activities that it should contain. The activities in the basic Counter Competitive Intelligence cycle are as follows: 1. Assignment. 2. Problem formulation and analysis. 3. Planning how to solve the problem. 4. Sourcing of data and information, including security measures. 5. Collecting essential data and information. 6. Processing collected data. 7. Information analysis. 8. Securing evidence. 9. Active intervention. 10. Evaluation and lessons learned. 11. Proposed measures. The author then outlines the appropriate content of activities in this basic Counter Competitive Intelligence cycle. The article concludes with the individual activities of the basic Counter Competitive Intelligence cycle organized into the following 5-phase model of "Counter Competitive Intelligence Cycle": I. Planning and direction. II. Data collection. III. Analysis. IV. Action. V. Measures.